November 28, 2025 (Fri.) - Propane, Painted cars, and the Big Gun.
The day began painfully early for Kirk—up at 5:00 AM when the propane ran out, leaving the RV without heat. At that hour, the temperature read 39°, but the wind chill made it feel closer to 26°. Nothing like icy air to jolt you awake. After swapping out the propane tanks, warmth returned to the RV. But while making the switch, Kirk spotted a small water leak. Back inside, he told himself he’d deal with it later. “Later” lasted all of ten minutes, that water leak kept nagging at him. By 5:10, he was bundled up again, shutting off the water. In an RV, leaks can spell disaster. No running water isn’t ideal, but we had workarounds ready, so it wasn’t a major concern.
Lynn was awake when Kirk got up at 5 AM, staying warm under the heated blanket while he handled the early morning duties. She managed to go back to sleep and didn’t wake until 8:30 AM! —a rarity, probably thanks to two nights of over indulgence at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse and The Big Texan Steak Ranch. Kirk, after finishing his quick 5 AM tasks, went back to bed and slept in until 9:45. Then he set out solo for the hardware store. Even at 10 AM, the temperature lingered in the 30s, with biting wind. Lynn sensibly stayed behind in the RV. At the store, Kirk stumbled upon something unexpected—a towering inventory robot gliding through the aisles, scanning shelves. It was a curious, futuristic sight. By 11, he returned with the parts to fix the leak, braving gusts up to 33 mph that kept the cold firmly pressing in as he worked outside.
The afternoon was spent indoors, sheltered from the cold. By 3:30, the sun finally broke through and the wind eased enough for us to wander the RV park. At the front office, Kirk asked about propane refills and noticed a sign stating that pull-thru sites must disconnect water hoses in freezing temperatures. We hadn’t seen it at check-in yesterday, since the office was closed for the holiday and our packet was left outside. That meant the heated water hose we bought in Oklahoma was useless here, as was the faucet freeze protector Kirk had just picked up. Everything had to be disconnected. Ugh. After that revelation, we continued our walk.
Just beyond the grounds stood Slug Bug Ranch, relocated from Conway, TX in April 2024. It began with five Volkswagen “slug bugs” buried nose-first, transformed into a vibrant, graffiti-splashed art piece. Over time, more half-buried cars and odd structures joined the display, all layered in spray paint—much like Cadillac Ranch, which we’ve visited before. We’d seen the original site back in 2020 (and Kirk in 2016), so this was a nostalgic stop. Without paint or much motivation, we skipped adding our mark, but it was fun to revisit.
From there, we sought out one of Lynn’s Roadside Attractions: The Big Gun. True to its name, it was indeed enormous—quirky and amusing. It’s a massive 20‑foot black revolver sculpture built in 2023 made from repurposed oil tanks. The grounds held other curiosities too: a giant bicycle, a teepee, and assorted eccentric structures tied to something called The Spirit Walk, noted on the Big Gun’s sign. We passed on that part, though—the cold still bit too sharply to linger long.
By 5 PM, hunger set in. Our first stop was a small place advertising “excellent catfish” (Kirk was still on a catfish fix) but the run-down exterior and neighborhood didn’t inspire confidence, so we passed. Next, we considered The Big Texan Steak Ranch again. The restaurant served catfish, but the place was jam-packed again, and we weren’t in the mood to wait and deal with crowds. So, back to the RV we went, where chicken and rice made for a lighter, welcome dinner.
All in all, it wasn’t a busy day—just fixing the RV, braving the cold, and searching for food. Having been to Amarillo before, there wasn’t much new to explore, but the little adventures kept the day interesting.
Weather – High 59*, Low 37*. Winds 16-22 mph with gusts up to 33 mph. No rain. No humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing to report.
Notable – The Big Gun, inventory robot, Slug Bug Ranch.
